Shoppers in Maidstone will soon be able to pop out on a Friday and buy fresh farm food, thanks to plans to set up a farmer’s market.

A launch date of June has been set for the new addition to the town’s calendar. The market will run in Jubilee Square.

The proposal was discussed by members of Maidstone Borough Council’s heritage culture and leisure committee on Tuesday alongside a new policy to encourage more people to use Jubilee Square.

Previous attempts to hold a farmers’ market at County Hall and Lockmeadow have failed, and officers feel the square would offer an ideal location for 32 stalls on the fourth Friday of every month – happily coinciding with most people’s pay day.

A rough division of 80% produce and 20% craft has been suggested for the stalls and the council is in discussions with The Kent Farmers Market Association.

A planning application for permission will be submitted and street trading consents are being applied for. These will take 90 days to go through.

Created in 2012 as part of the High Street Public Realm Improvement Project, Jubilee Square has remained under-utilised in spite of footfall, councillors heard.

But while farmers’ stalls had support a policy document about the square has listed political meetings or rallies as ‘undesirable usage’, alongside hawkers, pedlars, street art and fairground activities.

Cllr Paul Harper raised concerns about this clause, saying people need a space to express their feelings freely.

Jubilee Square is regularly used by residents demonstrating against controversial planning applications outside the Town Hall, plus political movements like Momentum Maidstone.

The council has no power to prohibit such gatherings unless they flout existing rules in an adopted Public Spaces Protection Order. But it does have a duty to inform police of large gatherings which could pose a safety risk.

The committee approved the new policy document and will consider the clauses about the use of Jubilee Square at a later date.